Environmental History

Sustainability is defined as the capacity to endure. Sustainable development meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Our society has been consuming resources at an exponential pace, without laying groundwork for our future. To understand how to change the path we are on, one must understand the path we took to get here. Without judgement or pretense we must understand life, industrialization, and our progress as it happened, as well as the foundation of environmental stewardship.

The written history of the environmental movement in the United States can be traced back to Henry David Thoreau moving to Walden Pond in 1845. Subsequently, his book "Walden" examined the delicate relationship between humans and their natural environment. Thoreau wanted to live with the land in a way that satisfied his human needs, but did not disrupt the ecosystem.

In the century to follow, our nation created a diverse collection of National Parks, a radical idea in those days.

Even as some were striving to preserve our natural wonders, others were determined to utilize the wealth of natural resources.

Society was transforming dramatically.

The introduction of the steam engine, the railroad, the assembly line, are a few examples of the massive advances in science and engineering that collectively became known as the Industrial Revolution. Mankind seemingly had endless resources and it was time to master our environment.

Then we began to pay the price. Environmental disasters never before imagined are now commonplace. Mountain tops are being blown off, over 10 million gallons of crude oil was spilt in our ocean in the famous Exxon Mobile spill, and over 1.1 billion cubic yards of coal ash was spilled last year here in East Tennessee. Right now there is a massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. All of these disasters are a result of a highly modernized society utilizing the same 100 year old technology that cannot keep up with ever increasing demand for energy. The world's constant growing need for energy is being addressed by a second Industrial Revolution; this time with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable resources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.

This is where we find ourselves.

We are a business that is striving to contribute part of the solution to a global problem.

Awareness of the problem leads to conscious choices. Small baby steps you make, whether it's turning off your lights when they are not in use, buying energy rated appliances, or composting organic material, collectively make a difference. They give us the building blocks towards a future of Zero Energy Homes. And are a gateway to respecting the earth we walk on and the air we breathe.